Information provision method, information processing system, information terminal, and information processing method

ABSTRACT

In order to objectively grasp a stress state of a user and to prevent postpartum depression, biological gas information is acquired via a network, where the biological gas information indicates a concentration of heptadecane of the user and is obtained by a sensor that detects heptadecane released from a skin surface of the user. From a memory storing information including an upper limit of a normal range of the concentration of heptadecane per unit period, the information indicating the upper limit of the normal range is read out. When a frequency in the unit period with which the concentration of heptadecane of the user exceeds the upper limit of the normal range is determined to have an increasing tendency based on the biological gas information obtained during a pregnancy period of the user, the information related to stress of the user is output to an information terminal of the user.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an information provision method andthe like.

BACKGROUND ART

PTL 1 discloses an electronic maternal and child health handbook systemthat provides information by analyzing contents of items described in aMaternal and Child Health Handbook and by notifying of contents of alocal government service that is desired by or suitable for the user.

In Japan, when a woman is found to be pregnant, a Maternal and ChildHealth Handbook is issued to the expectant woman from a localgovernment. The expectant woman, a medical institution, and the localgovernment write, in the Maternal and Child Health Handbook: physicalconditions of the expectant woman until childbirth; physical conditionsof a child at the time of or after the childbirth; being vaccinated ornot; information about a growth state; and other information. TheMaternal and Child Health Handbook plays a role to store record ofgrowth. The Maternal and Child Health Handbook is a paper medium, butthere is considered a computerized system of the Maternal and ChildHealth Handbook.

The system in PTL 1 extracts information about an expectant woman orinformation about a child from a data base of a computerized Maternaland Child Health Handbook and compares the extracted information withpreviously registered standard values. The information about theexpectant woman includes a user ID, a user name, a child name,information about the expectant woman, information about the child,questions, and a content of counseling. For example, if a body weight ofa one year child has gotten out of a range of an infant growth chart,the information about the child is determined to be out of a standardvalue. The system notifies a terminal of the user of alert informationindicating that there may be a problem with the child's physicalconditions and of recommendation information that recommends to have aninterview with a health nurse. This operation prevents depressivesymptoms, child abuses, and the like from occurring.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-191467

SUMMARY Technical Problem

However, the above conventional art needs to be further improved.

Solution to Problem

An aspect of an invention according to the present disclosure is amethod for providing information in an information processing system,the method comprising:

acquiring, via a network, biological gas information representing aconcentration of heptadecane of a user detected with a sensor fordetecting heptadecane released from a skin surface of the user;

obtaining reference information representing an upper limit of a normalrange of the concentration of heptadecane per unit period of time, usinga memory storing the reference information representing the upper limitof the normal range; and

outputting information related to stress of the user to an informationterminal after it is determined that a frequency with which theconcentration of the heptadecane of the user per unit period of time ismore than the upper limit of the normal range tends to increase, basedon the biological gas information acquired in a pregnancy period of theuser.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

The above aspect can achieve further improvement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graph showing temporal variations of concentrations ofcortisol in saliva of an examinee before and after a stress task andbefore and after a relaxation task.

FIG. 2 is a mass spectrum data of heptadecane collected from an armpitof the examinee.

FIG. 3 is a mass spectrum data of heptadecane in the National Instituteof Standards and Technology (NIST) data base.

FIG. 4 is a list of peak areas of heptadecane in the mass spectrum databy analyzing, with a gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (GC/MS),biological gases collected during a stress task, after the stress task,during a relaxation task, and after the relaxation task.

FIG. 5 is a bar chart of average values and error ranges of the peakareas of heptadecane in the list of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A is a graph showing prediction data of biological data dealt inthe first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is a graph showing prediction data of the biological data dealtin the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of asensor for measuring biological data in the first embodiment of thepresent.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating in more detail an operation of thesensor shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relationship between an electric fieldintensity and a ratio of ion mobility.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration of aninformation processing system according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailedconfiguration of the information processing system shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of data configurations of tablesstored in a memory.

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process in abiological information system shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of an initial phase processaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of a process of a normal phaseaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed ona user terminal as information related to stress.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed ona business operator terminal as the information related to stress.

FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing a process in an informationprocessing system according to a second embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a sensor according to avariation of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(How an Aspect According to the Present Disclosure has been Conceived)

First, there will be described a point of observation of an aspectaccording to the present disclosure.

The present inventors have studied prevention of postpartum depression.

When postpartum depression occurs, the postpartum depression is cured bya psychiatrist. The present inventors are studying how to grasp a signof postpartum depression and to thus prevent the postpartum depressionbefore the postpartum depression occurs.

The present inventors have a hypothesis that there is some causationbetween stress and depression. Stress is not necessarily harmful to mindand body. However, when stress is accumulated, the accumulated stresstends to give adverse effects to mind and body, and depression isthought to be one of the adverse effects.

Depression is classified, depending on the cause, into three types: (1)“somatogenic depression”, (2) “endogenous depression”, and (3)“psychogenic depression”. The “somatogenic depression” is caused bycharacteristics of a brain or body organ or is caused by a drug. The“endogenous depression” has a genetic-level cause or has an inherentcause in a brain that causes a mental disorder. The “psychogenicdepression” is caused by experiencing psychological stress. It isdifficult to strictly sort out these three causes of depression, and itis also said that there is a high possibility that the three causesinteract with each other to cause depression (Cabinet Office of Japan“White Paper on the National Lifestyle 2008” Chapter 1, Section 3 “2.Stress society and modern pathology”,http://www5.cao.go.jp/seikatsu/whitepaper/h20/10_pdf/01_honpen/pdf/08sh_0103_03.pdf). Considering expectant women, it can be said that expectant womenare under an environment where all of the above types (1) to (3) areeasily satisfied. In a pregnancy period, because expectant women cannottake drugs and are restricted to exercise, it is difficult to work offstress. Therefore, there is a possibility that expectant women willdevelop mental disorders such as depression.

In addition, a report says that the postpartum depression tends todevelop within two weeks after childbirth (Keiko Yoshida, “Understandingof mental problems with expectant women and Childcare Support” Honorlecture, General Academic meeting FY2013, The Okinawa Journal of ChildHealth 41 (2014): p. 3-8,http://www.osh.or.jp/in_oki/pdf/41gou/kouen.pdf). Therefore, it isimportant to grasp, during a pregnancy period, a sign of postpartumdepression and to thus prevent postpartum depression.

In view of the above, the present inventors are studying on developmentof a tool for objectively grasping, before childbirth, how much stressis accumulated on an expectant woman so that postpartum depression canbe prevented.

A description will be given below to cortisol, which is generallywell-known in association with stress. Cortisol is hormone whosesecretion amount increases when excessive stress is applied. For thisreason, by examining concentration of cortisol, it is possible to graspa stress amount at the time of the examination. The concentration ofcortisol can be measured by saliva sampling, blood sampling, or urineexamination. For example, if urine collection is continued for 24 hours,it is also possible to measure cumulative cortisol secretion for one dayand to thus evaluate a stress amount for one day.

If concentration of cortisol is high, Cushing's syndrome, stress,depression, anorexia nervosa, and other diseases are suspected. On theother hand, if concentration of cortisol is low, Addison's disease,congenital adrenal hyperplasia, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)insensitivity, pituitary-adrenocortical insufficiency, and otherdiseases are suspected.

As described above, the concentration of cortisol is effective toevaluate stress, but it is not realistic to continuously perform salivasampling, blood sampling, or urine examination. Therefore, it isdifficult to grasp a temporal variation of the above concentration ofcortisol. Therefore, it is also difficult to grasp a temporal variationof stress of an examinee.

To address this issue, the present inventors set up a hypothesis that,as an evaluation index replacing the above cortisol, there is abiological gas that is released from a skin surface of a person whenstress is applied to mind and body. To prove the hypothesis through anexperiment, the present inventors conducted an experiment to identify abiological gas that has a correlation with stress.

Specifically, the present inventors made each of 30 examinees perform atask that made each examinee feel stress, and biological gases werecollected, in a specific period before and after performing the task,from an underarm and a hand of each examinee while saliva was collectedfrom each examinee with predetermined time intervals. Then, from thesaliva collected as described above, the present inventors draw graphsof temporal variations of the cortisol concentration to specifyexaminees whose temporal variations of the cortisol concentration wereremarkable. The examinees specified above were identified to have hadfelt stress with the above task.

Next, the present inventors selected a plurality of biological gasesthat seemed to have a correlation with stress, by analyzing about 300types of biological gases collected from the armpits of the examineeswho felt stress in the above experiment. With respect to the thusselected biological gases, by checking the amounts of the biologicalgases during and after performing the task, it was found thatheptadecane was released from skins when the examinees felt stress. Thedescription below will show in detail a procedure of the experimentuntil the above heptadecane was identified.

First, the present inventors built a psychology laboratory. Thepsychology laboratory had inside a small isolated room. The isolatedroom had only a glass window, through which it is possible to observeinside from outside. In addition, the isolated room was designed so thatpsychological pressure was applied to an examinee when the examinee dida stress task.

The present inventors introduced 30 examinees of Japanese women in their20's to 40's into the above psychology laboratory, one examinee at atime. Then, the saliva of the examinee was collected in the psychologylaboratory. In ten minutes after the saliva of the examinee wascollected, the examinee worked on a stress task including computationalproblems and a speech for 20 minutes. In 30 minutes just after the endof the above stress task, the saliva of the examinee was collectedtotally four times, once in every 10 minutes. With respect to the thuscollected saliva, the concentration of cortisol in each saliva samplewas measured by using a salivary cortisol quantitative kit (Salimetrics,LLC.).

In addition, along with the above saliva sampling, biological gases werecollected from two places of the hand and the armpit of the examinee for20 minutes during the stress task and for 20 minutes from 10 minutes to30 minutes after the end of the stress task. The collection ofbiological gases from a hand were performed as follows: the hand of anexaminee was wrapped with a bag for sampling gases and was fixed with arubber band at a wrist part; and an absorbent for absorbing biologicalgases was put in the bag. The collection of biological gases from anarmpit was performed by putting an absorbent under the armpit of anexaminee. The absorbent put under the armpit was wrapped with cotton andwas fixed with a bandage so that the absorbent could not be displacedunder the armpit. The reason why biological gases were collected fromthe hand and the underarm was that the hand and an underarm had highdensity of sweat glands. Biological gases may be collected not only fromthe above hand and underarm but also from any parts, as long as thebiological gases are collected from a skin surface.

On a day other than the day when the above stress task was performed,the saliva and the biological gases of the examinees were each collectedin the same procedure as on the day when the above stress task wasperformed except that a relaxation task was performed instead of thestress task. As the relaxation task in the experiment, each examineeonly watched a natural scenery digital versatile disc (DVD).

FIG. 1 is a graph showing temporal variations of concentrations ofcortisol in saliva of an examinee before and after the stress task andbefore and after the relaxation task. The vertical axis represents theconcentration of cortisol (μg/dL), and the horizontal axis representsthe time (minute) after the start of the stress task or the relaxationtask. The higher side of the vertical axis of FIG. 1 represents thehigher concentration of cortisol, and the higher concentration ofcortisol represents that an examinee felt the higher stress asabove-mentioned. The shadowed part of the graph of FIG. 1 (from 0minutes to 20 minutes on the horizontal axis) is a period during whichthe stress task or the relaxation task was performed. As a known fact,it is known that, in about 15 minutes after an examinee feels stress,the concentration of cortisol in saliva will increase.

With reference to the graph of FIG. 1, the concentration of cortisolincreased rapidly at 20 minutes after the stress task was started (thatis, immediately after the stress task was ended); however, there isalmost no change in the concentration of cortisol between before andafter the relaxation task. From this fact, it can be considered that theexaminee whose concentration of cortisol showed the temporal variationof FIG. 1 felt stress with the stress task.

On the other hand, there was an examinee whose concentration of cortisoldid not show such a temporal variation as that of FIG. 1. It can beconsidered that because such an examinee did not feel stress with thestress task, cortisol was not secreted in the saliva. Even if thebiological gases of the examinee who did not feel stress as describedabove are evaluated, it is impossible to grasp the causation betweenstress and biological gases. Therefore, the examinees who did not feelstress were excluded from evaluation objects of biological gases. Inthis way, from the 30 examinees, there were identified top 20 examinees(examinee Nos. 1 to 20) whose concentration of cortisol remarkablyincreased before and after the stress task.

By heating the absorbents (during the stress task, after the stresstask, during the relaxation task, and after the relaxation task)collected from the armpit of each of the above identified examinees, thebiological gases of each examinee absorbed in each absorbent weredesorbed. By analyzing the above desorbed biological gases with a gaschromatography-mass spectrometer (GC/MS manufactured by AgilentTechnologies Japan, Ltd.), mass spectrum data of the biological gaseswere obtained. By comparing these mass spectrum data with NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology (NIST) data base by using AgilentTechnologies' software, heptadecane was identified. FIG. 2 shows themass spectrum data of heptadecane in the biological gas, and FIG. 3shows the mass spectrum data of heptadecane in the NIST data base. Whenthe mass spectra of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are compared with each other,similar spectrum peaks were observed at almost identical mass-to-chargeratios (m/z). As described above, it was identified that heptadecane iscontained as a biological gas.

Next, with respect to the above 20 examinees, the present inventorscalculated a peak area of each of the biological gases released from theunderarm of each examinee (Examinee Nos. 1 to 20) during and after thestress task and during and after the relaxation task; and by comparingthe peak area of a mass spectrum of each biological gas between duringand after the stress task and between during and after the relaxationtask, a plurality of substances were chosen as candidates related tostress from more than 300 of biological gas components. Of thesecandidate substances, heptadecane was apparently confirmed to have acorrelation with stress. The chemical formula of heptadecane is shownbelow.

Next, in the above-mentioned conditions, the peak areas of heptadecanewere calculated from the mass spectra obtained with GC/MS. The tableshown in FIG. 4 is a list of peak areas of heptadecane in the massspectra obtained by analyzing, with the gas chromatography/massspectrometry (GC/MS), the biological gases released from the underarm ofeach examinee (Examinee Nos. 1 to 20) during the stress task, after thestress task, during the relaxation task, and after the relaxation task.The larger value of the peak area in the mass spectrum shown in FIG. 4indicates that the larger amount of heptadecane was released from thearmpit. However, the peak areas of heptadecane after the relaxation taskof the examinees Nos. 1 and 10 in the table of FIG. 4 indicatedextremely larger values than the values of the other subjects, so thatthe measurement values of the examinees Nos. 1 and 10 were excluded aserror data. The values shown in the row of “average after exclusion” inthe list of FIG. 4 are average values of the peak areas of heptadecanefor each of the 18 subjects in which the measurement values of theexaminees Nos. 1 and 10 have been excluded. FIG. 5 is a bar chart ofaverage values and error ranges of the peak areas of heptadecaneobtained from the list of FIG. 4. For reference, in the graph of FIG. 5,an average value of the peak areas of heptadecane in which themeasurement values of the examinees Nos. 1 and 10 are included (namely,that of all of the examinees Nos. 1-20) is indicated by a dot line.

With reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, when the peak areas of heptadecanefor the stress task were compared with the peak areas of heptadecane forthe relaxation task, the peak areas of heptadecane were larger for thestress condition than for the relaxation condition.

From the above results, it has become clear that a larger amount ofheptadecane was released from the underarms of the examinees during thestress task than during the relaxation task. From these results, it canbe said that the release amount of heptadecane has a correlation withthe stress of the examinees. Therefore, heptadecane can be an index forobjectively evaluating the stress amount of an examinee. In therecognition of the present inventors, there is no case such as a paperin which the selected heptadecane has been studied in connection withstress, prior to the present application.

Next, a device to detect heptadecane was developed; thus, the device hassuccessfully achieved objective evaluation of stress, which had beensubjectively felt. That is, by using a method in which a device such asa sensor is used to measure heptadecane released from the skin surfaceof a human, continuous measurement can be done. In this case, it ispossible to grasp when on a day a stress reaction occurred and what theperson was doing when the stress reaction occurred. Thus, it is possibleto objectively grasp a temporal variation of stress, and it is thusexpected that stress can be controlled.

In addition, the present inventors have to lead achievement that stresscan be objectively grasped by measuring the biological gas resultingfrom stress, to a final goal of preventing postpartum depression. Eachaspect of the invention according to the present disclosure relates tohow to achieve the final goal.

Based on novel knowledge obtained as a result of the present inventors'hard studying, the present inventors have conceived the inventionaccording to the following aspects.

An aspect of the invention according to the present disclosure is amethod for providing information in an information processing system,the method comprising:

acquiring, via a network, biological gas information representing aconcentration of heptadecane of a user detected with a sensor fordetecting heptadecane released from a skin surface of the user;

obtaining reference information representing an upper limit of a normalrange of the concentration of heptadecane per unit period of time, usinga memory storing the reference information representing the upper limitof the normal range; and

outputting information related to stress of the user to an informationterminal after it is determined that a frequency with which theconcentration of the heptadecane of the user per unit period of time ismore than the upper limit of the normal range tends to increase, basedon the biological gas information acquired in a pregnancy period of theuser.

PTL 1 uses information in a Maternal and Child Health Handbook. Theinformation in a Maternal and Child Health Handbook is subjectivelywritten by an expectant woman, doctors, health nurses of a localgovernment, and others, and cannot be objective materials for decision.For example, there is a possibility that an expectant woman writes thatshe does not feel stress even if she receives stress. Similarly, thereis a possibility that she writes that she feels great stress even if shedoes not receive stress. Further, it can be thought that, for example,in an environment where an expectant woman is constantly receivingstress, she may be less sensitive to stress.

In contrast, in the present aspect, a stress amount is objectivelydetermined by using heptadecane, which is a biological gas that issupposed to have a relationship with stress. Therefore, it is possibleto objectively grasp a sign of postpartum depression without beingaffected by the subjective view of the expectant woman.

As a result, if it is determined that a frequency in the unit periodwith which the concentration of heptadecane of the user exceeds theupper limit of the normal values has an increasing tendency, theinformation related to stress of the user is output to an informationterminal. This enables the expectant woman herself to objectively know,during a pregnancy period, a sign of postpartum depression, and it canbe therefore expected to prevent postpartum depression.

Note that the term “pregnancy period” means a period from the first dayof the last menstruation to childbirth (delivery). However, there is areport that says that postpartum depression tends to develop within twoweeks after childbirth, and a termination time of the “pregnancy period”may be set at two weeks after a childbirth in the present specification.

In addition, in the present aspect, the information including the upperlimit of the normal range of the concentration of heptadecane per theunit period may be set for the user as individual information of theuser, based on the biological gas information acquired in in apredetermined period in an early stage of the pregnancy period of theuser.

In this case, the data of the user herself is used as a standard value.A release amount of heptadecane, which is a biological gas, is affectedby age, foods, body weight, and the like and has an individualvariability; therefore, it is preferable to use the data of the userherself for accurate determination.

In contrast, in PTL 1, a standard value common for all users is used.

With the present aspect, the data of the user herself is used as astandard value to determine a sign of postpartum depression. Therefore,an appropriate determination is possible for each expectant woman.

In addition, in the present aspect, the information including the upperlimit of the normal range of the concentration of heptadecane per unitperiod may be used commonly to a plurality of users including the user.

In this case, since the standard value is commonly used for theplurality of users, it is possible to omit time and effort forgenerating and managing the standard value for each user.

In addition, in the present aspect, when it is not determined that thefrequency with which the concentration of the heptadecane of the userper unit period of time is more than the upper limit of the normal rangetends to increase, the information related to stress of the user doesnot have to be output to the information terminal.

In this case, it is possible to prevent the information related tostress from being output to the information terminal if there is no signof postpartum depression observed.

Further, in the present aspect, the information terminal may be a firstinformation terminal of the user.

In this case, because the information terminal is configured with thefirst information terminal of the user, if there is a sign of postpartumdepression observed during a pregnancy period, an expectant womanherself can objectively know the fact, and prevention of postpartumdepression can be expected.

Further, in the present aspect, the information terminal may be a secondinformation terminal, of a consulting business operator, other than thefirst information terminal of the user.

In this case, because the information terminal is configured with thesecond information terminal of the consulting business operator, ifthere is a sign of postpartum depression observed during a pregnancyperiod, the consulting business operator can be made to objectively knowthe fact and can be made to take a measure, for example, to take care ofthe expectant woman. As a result, prevention of postpartum depressioncan be expected.

Further, in the present aspect, the information terminal may be a firstinformation terminal of the user. The method may further include:

acquiring first address information on the first information terminaland second address information on the consulting business operator froma memory storing the first address information and the second addressinformation, when it is determined that the frequency that theconcentration of heptadecane of the user per the unit period of time ismore than the upper limit of the normal range tends to increase; and

outputting the information related to stress of the user to both of thefirst information terminal and a second information terminal of theconsulting business operator, based on the first address information andthe second address information, wherein the second information terminalof the consulting business operator is distinct from the firstinformation terminal.

In this case, if there is a sign of postpartum depression observedduring a pregnancy period, since the information related to stress isoutput to both of the expectant woman and the consulting businessoperator, the expectant woman is made to know that there is a sign ofpostpartum depression and, at the same time, it is possible to make theconsulting business operator take care of the expectant woman. As aresult, prevention of postpartum depression can be further expected.

Further, in the present aspect, the information to be output to thefirst information terminal may include display information for allowingthe user to select whether to accept contact of the consulting businessoperator with the user.

Some users do not want a care from the consulting business operator. Inthe present aspect, since the user can choose whether to accept theaccess from the consulting business operator, it is possible to flexiblydeal with user's needs.

Further, in the above aspect, the information related to the stress ofthe user may be used to call the user's attention to a need for reducingstress build up in the user.

In this case, since the user is notified of the information indicatingthat the stress is in a state where the stress needs to be paidattention to, the user is made to know, in an early stage, that stressis accumulated, and it is thus possible to prevent the user fromdeveloping postpartum depression.

Further, in the above aspect, the information related to the stress ofthe user may indicate that the stress of the user is more than thepredetermined normal range.

In this case, since the information indicating that the stress exceedsthe predetermined normal range is notified to the user, it is possibleto notify the user of the information objectively indicating that stressis accumulated, and it is thus possible to make the user effectivelyknow that there is a sign of postpartum depression.

Further, in the above aspect, the sensor for detecting heptadecane maybe built in a device to be worn on the user.

In this case, since the sensor to detect heptadecane is embedded in thedevice to be mounted on the user, it is possible to enable an objectmounted on a user in a daily life to have a function of the sensor, forexample. As a result, it is possible to reduce hassle of the userwearing the sensor.

Further, in the above aspect, the information processing system may beconfigured to acquire the biogas information along with a user ID of theuser, and to output the information related to stress on the user to theinformation terminal associated with the user ID of the user.

In this case, since the biological gas information is acquired togetherwith the user ID, the biological gas information can be managed for eachuser, and it is thus possible to prevent that a sign of postpartumdepression of one user is determined by using biological gas informationof some other users. Further, since the information related to stress istransmitted to the information terminal related to the user ID, it ispossible to prevent the information related to stress from beingtransmitted to an information terminal not related to the user ID and tothus protect privacy of the user.

Further, an information processing system according to another aspect ofthe present disclosure includes a server device, and an informationterminal. The server device is configured to:

acquire biological gas information presenting a concentration ofheptadecane of a user acquired by a sensor that detects heptadecanedischarged from a skin surface of the user,

obtain reference information representing an upper limit of a normalrange of the concentration of heptadecane per unit period of time, usinga memory storing the reference information representing the upper limitof the normal range, and

output information related to stress of the user to the informationterminal after it is determined that a frequency that the concentrationof heptadecane of the user per the unit period of time is more than theupper limit of the normal range tends to increase, based on thebiological gas information acquired in a pregnancy period of the user.

The information terminal displays the information related to stress ofthe user on the display of the information terminal.

Further, an information terminal according to another aspect of thepresent disclosure is used in the above information processing system.

Further, an information processing method according to still anotheraspect of the present disclosure is an information processing methodusing a computer. The method comprising:

acquiring, via a network, biological gas information representing aconcentration of heptadecane of a user acquired by a sensor that detectsheptadecane discharged from a skin surface of the user;

obtaining reference information representing an upper limit of a normalrange of the concentration of heptadecane per unit period of time, usinga memory storing the reference information representing the upper limitof the normal range; and

outputting information related to stress of the user to display on adisplay the information related to stress of the user after it isdetermined a frequency that the concentration of heptadecane of the userper the unit period of time is more than the upper limit of the normalrange tends to increase, based on the biological gas informationacquired in a pregnancy period of the user.

The present aspect is supposed to perform processing on, for example, alocal computer.

First Embodiment

(Prediction Data)

FIGS. 6A and 6B are graphs each showing prediction data of biologicaldata dealt in a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In each ofFIGS. 6A and 6B, the vertical axis represents biological gasconcentration (an example of the biological gas information), and thehorizontal axis represents time. The prediction data does not representactually measured biological data but just data made by predictingbiological data. The biological data is the biological data measured bya sensor mounted on the user as will be mentioned below. The biologicaldata represents measurement values of a concentration of a measurementobject biological gas (biological gas concentration) of the biologicalgases released from a skin surface of a user. In the present disclosure,the biological gas to be a measurement object is heptadecane. A unit ofthe biological gas concentration is μg/dL, for example.

FIG. 6A shows a temporal transition of the biological data of the userwhen no stress is applied, and FIG. 6B shows a temporal transition ofthe biological data of the user when stress is applied. As shown in FIG.6A, regarding the biological data when no stress is applied, thebiological gas concentration is within the normal range. On the otherhand, as shown in FIG. 6B, regarding the biological data when stress isapplied, a frequency with which the biological gas concentration exceedsan upper limit DH of the normal range is higher. In the example of FIG.6B, the biological gas concentration exceeds the upper limit DH fourtimes in a time slot from 06:00 to 24:00.

In view of the above, in the present disclosure, if it is detected thatthere is an increasing tendency in a frequency with which the biologicalgas concentration exceeds the upper limit DH, it is determined that theuser shows a sign of postpartum depression, and it is prevented that theuser develops postpartum depression, by making the user know that thereis a sign of postpartum depression and prompting a consulting businessoperator to take care of the user.

(Sensor)

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration ofsensor 3 that measures the biological data in the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

As sensor 3, in the present disclosure, there is used a sensor using,for example, the technology of Field Asymmetric Ion MobilitySpectrometry (FAIMS). The field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer isused to selectively separate one type of substance from a mixtureincluding two or more types of substances.

Sensor 3 includes detection unit 33, controller 31, and communicationunit 34. Detection unit 33 includes ionizer 301, filter 302, detector303, power supply 304, and high-frequency amplifier 305. Note that, inFIG. 7, the arrowed lines show flows of electric signals, and the linesconnecting among ionizer 301, filter 302, and detector 303 show flow ofthe biological gas.

Power supply 304 and high-frequency amplifier 305 are respectively usedto drive ionizer 301 and filter 302. From the biological gas ionized byusing ionizer 301, only an intended biological gas (heptadecane in thepresent disclosure) is separated with filter 302, and an amount of ionshaving passed through filter 302 is detected by detector 303, so thatinformation indicating the biological gas concentration is obtained. Theobtained information is output via communication unit 34. Controller 31controls driving of sensor 3.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating in more detail an operation of sensor 3shown in FIG. 7. A mixture supplied to ionizer 301 is the biological gasreleased from the skin surface of the user. Ionizer 301 may include aninlet for taking in the biological gas having been released from theskin surface of the user. Further, the inlet may be provided with anabsorbent for absorbing the biological gas. In addition, a heater may beprovided to desorb the biological gas absorbed in the absorbent from theabsorbent. In the example of FIG. 8, the mixture is supposed to includethree types of gases 202 to 204 for the purpose of description. Gases202 to 204 are ionized by using ionizer 301.

Ionizer 301 includes a corona discharge source, a radiation source, andother units and ionizes gases 202 to 204. Ionized gases 202 to 204 aresupplied to filter 302 disposed adjacent to ionizer 301. Note that thecorona discharge source and the radiation source constituting ionizer301 are driven by a voltage supplied from power supply 304.

Filter 302 includes first electrode 201 a and second electrode 201 beach provided parallel to each other and having a flat plate shape.First electrode 201 a is grounded. On the other hand, second electrode201 b is connected to high-frequency amplifier 305.

High-frequency amplifier 305 includes AC voltage source 205 a forgenerating an asymmetric AC voltage and variable voltage source 205 bfor generating a compensation voltage CV, which is a DC voltage. ACvoltage source 205 a generates the asymmetric AC voltage and applies theasymmetric AC voltage to second electrode 201 b. One end of variablevoltage source 205 b is connected to second electrode 201 b, and theother end is grounded. With this arrangement, the asymmetric AC voltagegenerated by AC voltage source 205 a is superposed with the compensationvoltage CV and is suppled to second electrode 201 b.

Between first electrode 201 a and second electrode 201 b, three types ofgases 202 to 204 having been ionized are supplied. Three types of gases202 to 204 are influenced by the electric field generated between firstelectrode 201 a and second electrode 201 b.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relationship between an electric fieldintensity and a ratio of ion mobility, the vertical axis represents theratio of ion mobility, and the horizontal axis represents the electricfield intensity (V/cm). The coefficient α depends on the type of ion.The ratio of ion mobility represents the ratio of the mobility in highelectric fields to the ion mobility in the small electric field limit.

As represented by curved line 701, the ionized gas with a coefficientα>0 moves more actively when the electric field intensity increases. Theion having a mass-to-charge ratio smaller than 300 moves in this way.

As represented by curved line 702, the ionized gas with the coefficientα, which is almost 0, moves more actively when the electric fieldintensity increases; however, the mobility of the ionized gas decreaseswhen the electric field intensity further increases.

As represented by curved line 703, the mobility of the ionized gas withthe coefficient α, which is negative, decreases when the electric fieldintensity increases. An ion having a mass-to-charge ratio of greaterthan or equal to 300 moves in this way.

Because of the differences between the mobilities, three types of gases202 to 204 move in different directions inside filter 302 as shown inFIG. 8. In the example of FIG. 8, only gas 203 is discharged from filter302. On the other hand, gas 202 is trapped by a surface of firstelectrode 201 a, and gas 204 is trapped by a surface of second electrode201 b. In this way, from three types of gases 202 to 204, only gas 203is selectively separated and is discharged from filter 302. That is, onsensor 3, when the electric field intensity is appropriately set, anintended gas can be discharged from filter 302. Note that the electricfield intensity is determined by the voltage value of the compensationvoltage CV and a waveform of the asymmetric AC voltage generated by ACvoltage source 205 a. Therefore, sensor 3 can discharge the biologicalgas to be the measurement object from filter 302 by setting the voltagevalue of the compensation voltage CV and the waveform of the asymmetricAC voltage to a predetermined voltage value and waveform, depending onthe type (heptadecane in the present disclosure) of the biological gasto be the measurement object.

Detector 303 is disposed adjacent to filter 302. In other words, filter302 is disposed between ionizer 301 and detector 303. Detector 303includes electrode 310 and ammeter 311 to detect gas 203 having passedthrough filter 302.

Gas 203 having reached detector 303 delivers an electric charge toelectrode 310. The value of a current flowing in proportion to theamount of the delivered electric charge is measured by ammeter 311. Fromthe value of the current measured by ammeter 311, the concentration ofgas 203 is measured.

(Network Configuration)

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a network configuration ofthe information processing system according to the first embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The information processing system provides acare service for taking care of stress of user U1. This care service isprovided by, for example, an insurance company or the like with whichuser U1 is contracted. Note that the care service may be actuallyperformed by, for example, a manufacturer that manufactures sensor 3 andthat is subcontracted by the insurance company. Alternatively, the careservice may be provided by a service provider different from theinsurance company that provides the care service itself.

The insurance company provides user U1 with an insurance service such aslife insurance and medical insurance. In this case, the insurancecompany prevents postpartum depression of user U1 by, for example,lending sensor 3 to user U1, acquiring biological data of user U1, andmanaging a stress state of user U1. This enables the insurance companyto save spending of insurance money. Since this care service forces userU1 to wear sensor 3, some users U1 feel a burden. To address this issue,the insurance company may provide an insurance plan in which aninsurance fee to be paid by user U1 is discounted in exchange for thiscare service.

The information processing system includes: server 1 (an example of theserver device); user terminal 2 (an example of the first informationterminal); sensor 3; business operator server 4, and business operatorterminal 5 (an example of the second information terminal).

Server 1, user terminal 2, and business operator server 4 arecommunicably connected to each other via network NT. Network NT isconfigured with a network including an internet communication network, aportable telephone communication network, and a public telephone linenetwork. Sensor 3 and user terminal 2 are communicably connected to eachother via short-range wireless communication such as wireless local areanetwork (LAN) of IEEE802.11b, Bluetooth (registered trade mark,IEEE802.15.1), or the like. Further, business operator server 4 andbusiness operator terminal 5 are communicably connected to each othervia, for example, wired LAN (for example, IEEE802.3), wireless LAN (forexample, IEEE802.11b), or the like.

Server 1 is configured with, for example, a cloud server including oneor more computers. Server 1 includes: a processor such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or thelike; and a memory. Server 1 acquires the biological data of user U1measured by sensor 3 via user terminal 2 and network NT, and determineswhether the biological gas concentration is within the normal range.

User terminal 2 is configured with a portable information processingdevice such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. However,user terminal 2 may be configured with a stationary computer. Userterminal 2 is held by user U1. In the present disclosure, user U1 is,for example, an expectant woman who receives a care service.

Business operator server 4 is configured with, for example, a cloudserver including one or more computers. Business operator server 4includes: a processor such as a CPU, an FPGA, or the like; and a memory.Business operator server 4 connects business operator terminal 5 tonetwork NT and manages business operator terminal 5.

Business operator server 4 is managed by, for example, a consultingbusiness operator to which representative A1, who takes care of user U1through business operator terminal 5, belongs. The consulting businessoperator may be, for example, a company that is subcontracted by theinsurance company or may be the insurance company. Representative A1receives a talk about an insurance service and a care service, from userU1 through telephone or the like. In particular, in the presentdisclosure, when user U1 shows a sign of postpartum depression,representative A1 makes communication with user U1 and takes care ofuser U1 under permission of user U1.

Sensor 3 is mounted on, for example, an arm of user U1 and detects theconcentration of the biological gas released from an underarm of userU1. Sensor 3 includes, for example, a fitting belt, and a user winds thefitting belt around the arm at a position close to the underarm, so thatsensor 3 is attached in the vicinity of the underarm. This arrangementenables sensor 3 to detect the biological gas released from theunderarm. As the position, on the arm, in the vicinity of the underarm,it is possible to employ, for example, a position that is on the arm andis slightly close to the elbow from a connection point between the bodyand the arm. Note that when it is considered that the biological gas isreleased much from the underarm, sensor 3 is preferably attached, forexample, in such a manner that the inlet for collecting the biologicalgas is located on the rear side of the arm. In this case, the reason whysensor 3 is attached at the position, on the arm, in the vicinity of theunderarm is that it is difficult to attach sensor 3 to the underarmitself. However, this is an example. For example, sensor 3 may beattached to an underarm part of a shirt to be put on user U1. Thisarrangement enables sensor 3 to face the underarm, and the biologicalgas can be more surely collected. Note that this shirt is an example ofthe device to be mounted on a user.

Business operator terminal 5 is configured with, for example, astationary computer owned by the consulting business operator and isused by representative A1. Note that business operator terminal 5 may beconfigured with a portable information processing device such as asmartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a detailedconfiguration of the information processing system shown in FIG. 10.Server 1 includes controller 11, memory 12, and communication unit 13.Controller 11 is configured with a processor and includes data analyzer111. Data analyzer 111 is realized by, for example, a processorexecuting a program making a computer execute an information provisionmethod, of the present disclosure, stored in memory 12. Note that theprogram making a computer execute an information provision method of thepresent disclosure may be provided by download through a network or maybe provided by way of a computer-readable non-volatile recording mediumstoring the program.

If communication unit 13 receives the biological data obtained by sensor3, data analyzer 111 acquires the biological data from communicationunit 13. Then, data analyzer 111 reads out from memory 12 theinformation indicating the upper limit DH of the normal range of thebiological gas concentration, and determines whether the biological gasconcentration indicated by the biological data exceeds the upper limitDH. Then, data analyzer 111 registers the biological data in biologicaldata table T4 (FIG. 12) stored in memory 12, in association with aresult of the determination. Further, when the biological data has beenaccumulated for a prescribed period (for example, one day, half a day,or two days), data analyzer 111 counts cases where the biological gasconcentration exceeded the upper limit DH in the biological data in theprescribed period. Then data analyzer 111 determines whether there is anincreasing tendency in the frequency with which the biological gasconcentration exceeds the upper limit DH, by comparing a count number ofcases where the biological gas concentration exceeded the upper limit DHin one or a consecutive plurality of past prescribed periods with thecount number in this prescribed period. Then, if data analyzer 111determines that there is an increasing tendency, data analyzer 111transmits information related to stress to user terminal 2 and businessoperator terminal 5 via communication unit 13.

Memory 12 stores information indicating the normal range of thebiological gas concentration. In the present disclosure, as shown inFIG. 12, memory 12 stores user information table T1, normal range datatable T2, business operator information table T3, and biological datatable T4. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of data configurationsof the tables stored in memory 12.

User information table T1 stores personal information of one or moreusers who receive a care service. In user information table T1, onerecord is assigned to one user, and “user ID”, “telephone number”,“e-mail address”, and “social networking service (SNS) account” arestored in association with each other. Note that “telephone number”,“e-mail address”, “SNS account” are an example of the destinationinformation.

In a “user ID” field, there is stored an identifier for uniquelyidentifying a user who receives a care service. In a “telephone number”field, there are stored telephone numbers of a user's home and userterminal 2. In an “e-mail address” field, there is stored an e-mailaddress of user terminal 2 of each user. In an “SNS account” field,there is stored account information for logging in an SNS site that eachuser set up.

Normal range data table T2 stores the normal ranges of stress of thebiological gas concentrations of one or more users who receive a careservice. In normal range data table T2, one record is assigned to oneuser, and “user ID”, “measurement date and time”, and “normal range” arestored in association with each other.

In a “user ID” field, there is stored a user ID that is the same as theuser ID in user information table T1. In a “measurement date and time”field, there is stored a time slot corresponding to a measurement dateand time of the biological data used to calculate the normal range. In a“normal range” field, there is stored the normal range calculated byusing the biological data stored in the “measurement date and time”field. In the “normal range” field, there are stored a lower limit DLand an upper limit DH of the normal range.

For example, regarding a user with the user ID “S00001”, the normalrange is calculated by using the biological data measured in the timeslot from 20:00 to 21:00 on Jan. 20, 2017.

As described above, in the present disclosure, since the normal range isalready calculated for each user, stress can be determined for each userby using the normal range appropriate to each user, so thatdetermination accuracy can be improved. In the present disclosure, thenormal range is calculated for each user, but this is just an example,and it is possible to use an average value of the normal rangescalculated for a part of all the users, as the normal range for all theusers. Alternatively, an average value of the normal ranges of all theusers may be used as the normal range for all the users. In these cases,it is not necessary to store or calculate the normal range for eachuser, and it is thus possible to save memory consumption and to reduceprocess steps.

Business operator information table T3 stores information of one or moreconsulting business operators. In business operator information tableT3, one record is assigned to one consulting business operator. Businessoperator information table T3 stores “consulting business operator”,“representative”, and “contact information” in association with eachother. In a “consulting business operator” field, there is stored a nameof the consulting business operator. In a “representative” field, thereis stored a name of a representative belonging to the consultingbusiness operator. In a “contact information” field, there is storedcontact information of a representative. As the contact information of arepresentative, it is possible to employ the e-mail address and thetelephone number of business operator terminal 5 of the representative.Note that the “contact information” is an example of the destinationinformation.

Biological data table T4 stores the biological data obtained by sensor3. In biological data table T4, one record is assigned to one piece ofbiological data, and “user ID”, “date”, “time”, “concentration”, and“determination result” are stored in association with each other.

In a “user ID” field, there is stored a user ID that is the same as theuser ID stored in user information table T1. In a “date” field, there isstored a measurement date of the biological data. In a “time” field,there is stored the time slot when the biological data was measured. Ina “concentration” field, there is stored the biological gasconcentration indicated by the biological data. In a “determinationresult” field, there is stored the determination result whether thebiological gas concentration is within the normal range. Note that inthe “time” field, there may be stored the time slot when the biologicaldata was acquired by server 1.

For example, in the record on the first row of biological data table T4,there is stored the biological data, which is the biological gasconcentration “OO”, of the user with the user ID “S00001” measured inthe time slot 10:00 to 11:00 on Feb. 15, 2017. In addition, in therecord on the first row, there is “Normal” stored in the “Determinationresult” field because the biological gas concentration is within thenormal range. On the other hand, in the record on the second row, thereis stored “Abnormal” in the “Determination result” field because thebiological gas concentration was out of the normal range.

Note that biological data table T4 shows only the biological data of theuser with the user ID “S00001”. However, this is just an example, and inbiological data table T4 there is stored the biological data of all ofthe users who receive a care service.

Refer back to FIG. 11 again. Communication unit 13 is configured with,for example, a communication circuit that connects server 1 to networkNT, and communication unit 13 receives the biological data measured bysensor 3 and transmits the information related to stress to userterminal 2 and business operator terminal 5.

User terminal 2 includes controller 21, memory 22, display unit 23 (anexample of the display), and communication unit 24. Controller 21 isconfigured with a processor such as a CPU, and performs overall controlof user terminal 2. Memory 22 stores various types of data. In thepresent disclosure, memory 22 stores, in particular, an application tobe performed on user terminal 2 to make user U1 receive a care service.In addition, memory 22 stores the user ID in association with biologicaldata.

Display unit 23 is configured with, for example, a display including atouch panel, and displays various types of information. In the presentdisclosure, display unit 23 displays, in particular, the informationrelated to stress. Communication unit 24 is configured with acommunication circuit that connects user terminal 2 to network NT and,at the same time, makes user terminal 2 communicate with sensor 3. Inthe present disclosure, communication unit 24 receives, in particular,the biological data transmitted from sensor 3 and transmits the receivedbiological data to server 1 in association with the user ID stored inmemory 22. Further, in the present disclosure, communication unit 24receives, in particular, the information related to stress transmittedfrom server 1. Note that display unit 23 does not have to be configuredwith a touch panel. In this case, user terminal 2 only has to include anoperation unit to receive an operation from the user.

Sensor 3 includes controller 31, memory 32, detection unit 33, andcommunication unit 34. Controller 31 is configured with a processor suchas a CPU or a digital signal processor (DSP), and performs overallcontrol of sensor 3. Memory 32 temporarily stores, for example, thebiological data measured by detection unit 33. In addition, memory 32stores data (for example, a frequency and amplitude on the positive sideand amplitude on the negative side) that is necessary for AC voltagesource 205 a to generate the asymmetric AC voltage. Further, memory 32stores a voltage value of the compensation voltage CV.

Communication unit 34 is configured with a communication circuit forwireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trade mark), or the like, andtransmits the biological data measured by detection unit 33 to userterminal 2. This biological data is received by communication unit 24 ofuser terminal 2 and is transmitted to server 1 via network NT.

Business operator server 4 includes controller 41, memory 42, andcommunication unit 43. Controller 41 is configured with a processor suchas a CPU or an FPGA, and performs overall control of business operatorserver 4. Memory 42 stores a computer-readable program to make acomputer function as business operator server 4.

Communication unit 43 is configured with a communication circuit thatconnects business operator server 4 to network NT and, at the same time,makes business operator server 4 communicate with business operatorterminal 5. In the present disclosure, communication unit 43 receives,in particular, the information related to stress and transmits thereceived information to business operator terminal 5.

Business operator terminal 5 includes controller 51, memory 52, displayunit 53, and communication unit 54. Controller 51 is configured with aprocessor such as a CPU, and performs overall control of businessoperator terminal 5. Memory 52 stores a computer-readable program tomake the computer function as business operator terminal 5. Display unit53 displays various images under control of controller 51. In thepresent disclosure, display unit 53 displays, in particular, theinformation related to stress transmitted from server 1. Communicationunit 54 is configured with, for example, a communication circuit forwireless LAN or wired LAN. In the present disclosure, communication unit54 receives, in particular, the information related to stress.

(Sequence)

FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a process in thebiological information system shown in FIG. 11. This sequence diagram isdivided into an initial phase from step S101 to step S106 and a normalphase including step S201 and steps subsequent thereto. The initialphase is for calculating the normal range of a user and is performedimmediately after the care service is introduced. The normal phase isfor monitoring the stress state of a user by using the normal rangecalculated in the initial phase.

The initial phase is performed, for example, when the application foruser terminal 2 for receiving the care service is started on userterminal 2 by a user for the first time.

First, display unit 23 of user terminal 2 receives input of userinformation (step S101). In this step, display unit 23 may allow theuser to input user information by displaying a registration screen toallow the user to input the user information such as a user ID, atelephone number, an e-mail address, an SNS account, and the like. Here,as the user ID, it is possible to use the user ID issued when the usermakes an insurance contract with an insurance company, for example.Alternatively, the user ID may be the user ID issued by server 1 andnotified to user terminal 2 when server 1 receives the user informationin step S102 to be described later. In this case, the user does not haveto input a user ID on the registration screen.

Next, controller 21 of user terminal 2 transmits the user informationhaving been input to server 1 by using communication unit 24 (stepS102). The transmitted user information is stored in user informationtable T1 by controller 41 of server 1.

Next, detection unit 33 of sensor 3 measures the initial biological dataof the user (step S103). Next, controller 31 of sensor 3 transmits themeasured initial biological data to user terminal 2 by usingcommunication unit 34 (step S104).

On user terminal 2, if communication unit 24 receives the initialbiological data, controller 21 transmits the initial biological data toserver 1 in association with the user ID (step S105).

Because the initial biological data is used to calculate the normalrange of the user, it is a precondition that the user is not in a stressstate. For this reason, after the transmission of the user informationis finished (step S102), user terminal 2 may cause display unit 23 todisplay, for example, a message such as “Biological data will bemeasured. Please wear the sensor and stay calm for a while”. Dataanalyzer 111 of server 1 sets the normal range (step S106). The normalrange having been set is stored in normal range data table T2 inassociation with the user ID by data analyzer 111 of server 1.

This completes the initial phase. Subsequently, the normal phase will beperformed.

First, on sensor 3, detection unit 33 measures biological data (stepS201), and controller 31 transmits the biological data to user terminal2 by using communication unit 34 (step S202).

Next, on user terminal 2, when communication unit 24 receives thebiological data, controller 21 transmits the biological data to server 1by using communication unit 24 in association with the user ID (stepS203).

Next, on server 1, when communication unit 13 receives the biologicaldata, data analyzer 111 compares the biological data to the normal rangeand accumulates the determination result (step S204). In this step, thedetermination result is accumulated in the “determination result” fieldin the record for the concerning user in normal range data table T2, byusing the user ID as a key.

Next, if data analyzer 111 determines that the user is in a stress state(step S205), data analyzer 111 transmits the information related tostress together with an access acceptability request to user terminal 2(step S206). In addition, data analyzer 111 transmits the informationrelated to stress also to business operator terminal 5 by usingcommunication unit 13 (step S207).

Next, on user terminal 2, when communication unit 24 receives theinformation related to stress, controller 21 inquires the user, by usingdisplay unit 23, whether the user accepts access, and receives adecision result from the user (step S208). In this step, controller 21may display, on display unit 23, an image including a “YES” button topermit contact from the consulting business operator and a “NO” buttonnot to permit the contact. Then, if the “YES” button is chosen by theuser, controller 21 determines that the user permits access from theconsulting business operator, and may transmit the decision resultmeaning permission of access. On the other hand, the “NO” button ischosen by the user, controller 21 determines that the user does notpermit access from the consulting business operator, and may transmitthe decision result meaning prohibition of access.

Next, on user terminal 2, communication unit 24 transmits the decisionresult to server 1 (step S209). Next, on server 1, communication unit 13receives the decision result and transmits the received decision resultto business operator terminal 5 (step S210).

Next, on business operator terminal 5, when communication unit 54receives the decision result and if the decision result means permissionof access, controller 51 contacts user terminal 2 of the concerning userby telephone, e-mail, or SNS (step S211). If the contact is made bytelephone, the representative of the consulting business operator maydirectly make a phone call to tell a message showing concern for theuser, for example. If the contact is made by e-mail, the representativeof the consulting business operator may use business operator terminal 5to compose an e-mail containing a message showing concern for the userand send the e-mail to the e-mail address of the concerning user, forexample. If the contact is made by SNS, the representative of theconsulting business operator may use business operator terminal 5 to login an SNS site of the concerning user and send a message showing concernfor the user, for example.

In this step, as a message showing concern for the user, a message suchas “How has your physical condition been recently?” or “Is thereanything annoying you?” can be used. When the user receives thismessage, the user replies to the representative's message. Suchcommunications will be made between the representative and the useruntil the user is satisfied to some extent. In this way, the user canget a relief that the representative listened to the user's uneasinessand problem through the communications with the representative, and thestress state of the user is thus reduced.

Note that if it is not determined, in step S205, that the user is in astress state, the processing in steps S206, S207, S208, S209, S210, andS211 is not performed. Server 1 and business operator terminal 5communicate with each other via business operator server 4, but businessoperator server 4 is not shown in FIG. 13. However, this is just anexample, and server 1 and business operator terminal 5 may directlycommunicate with each other not via business operator server 4.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing details of the initial phase processaccording to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Theflowchart is executed on server 1. First, communication unit 13 receivesthe user information transmitted from user terminal 2 (step S301).

Next, communication unit 13 receives the initial biological datatransmitted from user terminal 2 (step S302). Next, if the initialbiological data is not completely acquired (step S303: NO), dataanalyzer 111 returns the process back to step S302. On the other hand,if the initial biological data is completely acquired (step S303: YES),data analyzer 111 proceeds the process to step S304. In this process,data analyzer 111 may finish acquisition of the initial biological dataif the number of pieces of received initial biological data reaches apredetermined number sufficient to calculate the normal range or if apredetermined measurement period has elapsed since start of measurementof the initial biological data. In the present disclosure, as themeasurement period for the initial phase, one hour, two hours, threehours, one day, two days, three days, or the like is used, for example,although depending on the measurement interval for the biological data.For example, if the measurement interval for the biological data isshort, many pieces of initial biological data can be obtained in a shorttime, and the measurement period for the initial biological data can beaccordingly reduced. For example, if one hour is used as the measurementinterval for the biological data, half a day, one day, two days, threedays, or the like is used as the measurement period for the initialbiological data, for example. If one minute or one second is used as themeasurement interval for the biological data, ten minutes, 20 minutes,one hour, two hours, three hours, or the like is used as the measurementperiod for the initial biological data, for example. However, thesenumerical values are just examples and can be changed appropriately.

Note that, in the present disclosure, since the user information wasregistered in the early stage of pregnancy, the measurement period forthe initial biological data corresponds to an example of thepredetermined period of an early stage of pregnancy of the user. Themeasurement interval for the biological data corresponds to an exampleof the unit period.

Next, data analyzer 111 sets the normal range by using the obtainedinitial biological data (step S304). Suppose, for example, the initialbiological data as shown in FIG. 6A is obtained. In this case, dataanalyzer 111 extracts an upper limit peak and a lower limit peak of thebiological gas concentration by analyzing the obtained initialbiological data. Then, data analyzer 111 may calculate a value as theupper limit DH by adding a predetermined margin to the upper limit peak,and may calculate a value as the lower limit DL by subtracting apredetermined margin from the lower limit peak. Alternatively, dataanalyzer 111 may calculate a value as the upper limit DH by adding apredetermined margin to an average value of the upper-side peaks, andmay calculate a value as the lower limit DL by subtracting apredetermined margin from an average value of the low-side peaks. By theabove process, the normal range is set for each user.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing details of the process of the normalphase according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. Notethat, the flowchart of FIG. 15 is periodically executed on server 1 atthe measurement intervals of sensor 3 measuring the biological data. Thefollowing description shows, as an example, a case where one day is usedas the prescribed period.

First, communication unit 13 receives the biological data from userterminal 2 (step S401). Next, data analyzer 111 determines whether thestress state is normal or abnormal, by comparing the biological gasconcentration indicated by the biological data to the normal range forthe concerning user, and data analyzer 111 accumulates the determinationresult in biological data table T4 (step S402). In detail, data analyzer111 may store, in biological data table T4, the determination result inassociation with the user ID, the measurement date and time, and thebiological gas concentration. Now refer to biological data table T4 ofFIG. 12. On the record on the first row, there are written “2017.2.15”on the “date” field and “10:00-11:00” on the “time” field. This isbecause the measurement interval for the biological data is set to onehour and this biological data was measured between 10:00 and 11:00 onFeb. 15, 2017.

In the present disclosure, as the biological gas of the measurementobject, heptadecane is used. Heptadecane has a positive correlation withintensity of stress. Therefore, data analyzer 111 may determine, if thebiological gas concentration is greater than the upper limit DH of thenormal range, that the stress state is abnormal and, if the biologicalgas concentration is lower than or equal to the upper limit DH, that thestress state is normal.

Next, if data analyzer 111 obtains the biological data for one day (stepS403: YES), data analyzer 111 proceeds the process to step S404, and ifdata analyzer 111 does not yet obtain the biological data for one day(step S403: NO), data analyzer 111 returns the process back to step S401and obtains the biological data to be measured next.

In this process, when it becomes “00:00”, data analyzer 111 maydetermine YES in step S403 and deal with the biological data for one dayobtained on the previous day, as the biological data for an object daythat is to be processed.

Next, data analyzer 111 extracts the biological data of the concerninguser for the object day from biological data table T4 and countsabnormalities in the extracted biological data (step S404). In thisprocess, data analyzer 111 may count the number of pieces of thebiological data in which “abnormal” is written in the “determinationresult” field, of the biological data of the concerning user for theobject day, in biological data table T4.

Next, data analyzer 111 determines whether stress has a tendency toincrease, by comparing the count value of abnormalities for the objectday to the count values of abnormalities for a certain number of pastdays (step S405). Suppose, for example, the certain number of past daysare two days. In addition, the count value of abnormalities for each dayis assumed to be E. In this case, data analyzer 111 may determine thatthere is an increasing tendency, for example, if ΔE1=E (object day)−E(previous day)>a reference differential value and if ΔE2=E (previousday)−E (two days before)>the reference differential value. On the otherhand, data analyzer 111 may determine that there is no increasingtendency if ΔE1=E (object day)−E (previous day)≤the referencedifferential value. As the reference differential value, an integer morethan or equal to 1 can be used, for example. Alternatively, in order toeliminate a case where the count value increases due to a measurementerror or the like, an integer greater than or equal to 2 may be used asthe reference differential value. In this case, a period of two days istaken as an example of the certain number of past days, but this is justan example, and one day or three days and more may be used.

Next, if stress has a tendency to increase (step S406: YES), dataanalyzer 111 transmits, by using communication unit 13, the informationrelated to stress to user terminal 2 in association with the accessacceptability request and, at the same time, transmits the informationrelated to stress to business operator terminal 5 (step S407). As thetiming when information related to stress is transmitted, apredetermined time (for example, 7:00) in the next morning may be used,for example.

On the other hand, if stress does not have a tendency to increase (stepS406: NO), data analyzer 111 does not transmit the information relatedto stress (step S410), and returns the process back to step S401.

Next, communication unit 13 receives the decision result of accessacceptability from user terminal 2 (step S408). Next, communication unit13 transmits the decision result of access acceptability to businessoperator terminal 5 (step S409). When the process in step S409 isfinished, the process goes back to step S401.

By the above process, it is determined whether there is an increasingtendency in the frequency with which stress exceeds the normal range.

(Information Related to Stress)

Regarding the information related to stress, in a period from when theuser was first determined to be in a stress state to when theinformation related to stress is output for a predetermined number-thtime, the information related to stress is output to indicate that thestress accumulated in the user is in a state where the stress needs tobe paid attention to. Further, when the information related to stress isoutput the next time after the information related to stress is outputthe predetermined number of times, the information indicating that thestress of the user exceeds the predetermined normal range is output. Asdescribed above, notification intensity of the information related tostress is changed in a step-by-step manner.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of display screen G1 displayedon user terminal 2 as the information related to stress. Display screenG1 includes graph G11, graph G12, message display field G13, and inputfield G14.

Graph G12 shows a relationship between a number of high-stress cases forthe object day (in this case, February 19th) and numbers of high-stresscases for the certain number of past days (in this case, fiveconsecutive days from February 14th to February 18th). In graph G12, thenumber of high-stress cases represents how many times the biological gasconcentration exceeded the normal range. In the example of graph G12,because the number of high-stress cases has a tendency to increase fromFebruary 16th to February 19th, the stress is determined to have atendency to increase, and display screen G1 is displayed on userterminal 2.

Graph G11 shows how the degree of stress temporally transits in apredetermined period (in this case, from 6:00 to 24:00) for a day forwhich the stress is determined to have a tendency to increase (in thiscase, February 19th). The degree of stress shown in graph G11corresponds to the biological gas concentration. In graph G11, thetriangular markers are displayed at the points at which the degree ofstress exceeds the upper limit of the normal range so that the user caneasily recognize where the stress is high.

Here, user terminal 2 may be configured as follows: if user terminal 2detects an operation, on graph G12, of the user choosing a desired day,user terminal 2 displays graph G11 for the chosen day on display screenG1. This configuration enables the user to look back her life in thepast several days and to know the reason (stressor) why the stressbecomes high.

Note that graphs G11 and G12 are examples of the information indicatingthat the stress of the user exceeds the predetermined normal range.

In message display field G13, there is displayed a message notifying theuser that the stress is high. In this case, the displayed message says“Your degree of stress is high”. Since display screen G1 of FIG. 16 isthe output in the period from when the user was first determined to bein a stress state to when display screen G1 is output for thepredetermined number-th time, message display field G13 displays “Yourdegree of stress is high”. This message is an example of the informationindicating that the stress accumulated in the user is in a state wherethe stress needs to be paid attention to. Note that at the followingtimes after the predetermined number-th time, in message display fieldG13 there is displayed information indicating that the stress of theuser exceeds the predetermined normal range. In this case, in messagedisplay field G13, there is displayed a message saying, for example, “Becareful. Your stress exceeds predetermined normal range”.

Input field G14 is a field for the user to input the decision resultwhether to accept access or not. In input field G14, there are displayeda message saying “Do you accept access from consulting company?”, a“YES” button, a “NO” button, a “Phone” button, an “E-mail” button, andan “SNS” button. The consulting company is the aforementioned consultingbusiness operator.

The “YES” button is used by the user to set the access acceptability to“permission”. The “NO” button is used by the user to set the accessacceptability to “prohibition”. If the user chooses the “YES” button, atriangular cursor is displayed on the left side of the “YES” button. Ifthe user chooses the “NO” button, a triangular cursor is displayed onthe left side of the “NO” button. The above display enables the user toeasily know which button is chosen.

If the user chooses the “YES” button, the decision result that theaccess acceptability is “permission” is transmitted from user terminal 2to server 1, and if the user chooses the “NO” button, the decisionresult that the access acceptability is “prohibition” is transmittedfrom user terminal 2 to business operator terminal 5 via server 1.

The “Phone” button is used by the user to permit an access by telephone.The “E-mail” button is used by the user to permit an access by e-mail.The “SNS” button is used by the user to permit an access by SNS. If theuser chooses any one of the “Phone” button, “E-mail” button, and the“SNS” button, a triangular cursor is displayed on the left side of thechosen button. The above display enables the user to easily know whichbutton is chosen.

If the user chooses any one of the “Phone” button, the “E-mail” button,and “SNS” button, the result of the choice is transmitted from userterminal 2 to business operator terminal 5 via server 1. Therefore,regarding the user who permits the access acceptability, therepresentative of the consulting business operator accesses the user byusing the access method corresponding to the button chosen by the user.

In the aspect described in this case, the user chooses any one of phone,e-mail, and SNS; however, the present disclosure is not limited to thisaspect, and an aspect may be employed in which the user can choose anyone or more of telephone, e-mail, and SNS. Note that input field G14 isan example of display information that makes the user choose whether theuser accepts an access from the consulting business operator to theuser.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of display screen G2 displayedon business operator terminal 5 as the information related to stress.Display screen G2 includes graph G21, graph G22, message display fieldG23, access acceptability display field G24, access history displayfield G25, and user information display field G26.

Graph G21, graph G22, and message display field G23 are the same asgraph G11, graph G12, and message display field G13 of FIG. 16.

In access acceptability display field G24, there are displayed thedecision result of the access acceptability and the access method chosenby the concerning user. In this case, the user chooses “permission” asthe decision result of the access acceptability and chooses “SNS” as theaccess method. Therefore, in access acceptability display field G24,there is displayed “Access acceptability: Acceptable, SNS preferred”.This display enables the user to determine whether the user can accessthe concerning user. In addition, in access acceptability display fieldG24, there is written “2017.2.20 9:30”, and is also displayed the timewhen the user input the decision result of the access acceptability.

In access history display field G25, there is displayed the history ofthe representative accessing the concerning user. Regarding accesshistory display field G25, one access is assigned to one row, and accesshistory display field G25 includes a “date and time” column, a “means”column, a “representative” column, and a “comment” column. In the “dateand time” column, there is displayed the date and time when therepresentative accessed the user; in the “method” column, there isdisplayed an access method (for example, telephone); in the“representative” column, there is displayed the name of therepresentative having accessed the user; and in the “comment” column,there is displayed the comment of the representative. In the “comment”column, there is written, for example, an impression and the like thatthe representative had on the user. For example, in the “comment” columnthere is written a comment meaning that the user actively answered thequestions from the representative.

Note that the access history shown in access history display field G25is compiled in a data base, for example, on business operator server 4,and business operator terminal 5 may display the access history by usingthe data base.

In user information display field G26, there is displayed the userinformation of an access object user. In this case, in user informationdisplay field G26, there are displayed “user ID”, “name”, “pregnancyperiod”, and “contact information”. These pieces of information arecompiled in a data base and are managed by server 1. Note that this database may be included in user information table T1 shown in FIG. 12. Inthis case, user information table T1 shown in FIG. 12 may be added with“name” and “pregnancy period”.

In the example of FIG. 17, since “Access permitted, SNS preferred” iswritten in access acceptability display field G24, the representativewill communicate with the user by accessing the contact information ofthe SNS in user information display field G26 by using business operatorterminal 5.

As described above, since in display screen G2 there are displayed theuser information of the access object user and, in addition, afluctuation pattern of the degree of stress, and a fluctuation tendencyof the number of high-stress cases, the representative can smoothlycommunicate while grasping a personal image and the degree of stress ofthe access object user.

(Schedule Information)

Here, display screens G1 and G2 respectively shown in FIGS. 16 and 17may display schedule information of the concerning user. In this case,server 1 may include a data base that manages the schedule informationof the user.

The data base managing the schedule information stores, for example,pieces of information such as “user ID”, “schedule”, and “date and time”in association with each other. “Schedule” is a schedule of the user(for example, “conference” and the like), and is input by the user via,for example, user terminal 2. “Date and time” is a scheduled date andtime when the schedule written in “schedule” is to be done and is inputby the user via user terminal 2.

When transmitting the information related to stress, server 1 transmitsthe schedule information of the concerning user for the certain numberof past days to user terminal 2 and business operator terminal 5 byembedding the schedule information in the information related to stress.

User terminal 2 and business operator terminal 5 may generate displayscreens G1 and G2 by using the schedule information. As a display formof the schedule information, a form can be employed in which theschedule information of the user is displayed in graphs G11 and G21 inassociation with the time slot. For example, a form may be employed inwhich the schedule of the user is displayed in association with the timeshown on graphs G11 and G21. This display enables the user to easilycheck the causation between stress and behaviors of the user herself.

As described above, since the first embodiment objectively determines astress amount by using concentration of heptadecane that has acorrelation with the stress amount, it is possible to objectivelydetermine a sign of postpartum depression without being affected by asubjective view of an expectant woman. Then, if there is an increasingtendency in a frequency with which the concentration of heptadecaneexceeds the normal range, the information related to stress istransmitted to user terminal 2. Therefore, the expectant woman herselfcan objectively know, during a pregnancy period, a sign of postpartumdepression, and prevention of postpartum depression can be thereforeexpected. Further, in this case, since the information related to stressis transmitted to business operator terminal 5, the representative canalso objectively determine a sign of postpartum depression of the user,and it is expected that the stress of the user can be reduced throughcommunication between the representative and the user and thatpostpartum depression can be thus prevented.

Second Embodiment

In a second embodiment, the functions of server 1 are incorporated inuser terminal 2. Note that in the second embodiment, the same componentsas in the first embodiment are assigned the same reference signs and arenot described again. FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing a process inan information processing system according to the second embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

In FIG. 18, the difference from FIG. 13 is that server 1 and businessoperator terminal 5 are omitted and that information processing systemis configured with sensor 3 and user terminal 2. Steps S501 to S504correspond to the initial phase.

Steps S501, S502, and S503 are the same as steps S101, S103, and S104 inFIG. 13. Step S504 is the same as step S106 in FIG. 13 except that stepS504 is performed not on server 1 but on user terminal 2.

Steps S601 to S605 correspond to the normal phase. Steps S601 and S602are the same as steps S201 and S202 in FIG. 13. Steps S603 and S604 arethe same as steps S204 and S205 in FIG. 13 except that steps S603 andS604 are performed not on server 1 but on user terminal 2.

In step S605, controller 21 of user terminal 2 causes display unit 23 todisplay information related to stress.

Note that step S502 is shown only once in the example of FIG. 18 but isperformed for a plurality of times to obtain necessary pieces ofbiological data to calculate the normal range. Note that step S601 isshown only once but is performed for a plurality of times to determinethat there is an increasing tendency in a frequency with which thebiological gas concentration exceeds the upper limit of the normalrange.

As described above, with the information processing system according tothe second embodiment, also in the aspect in which the functions ofserver 1 are incorporated in user terminal 2, postpartum depression canbe prevented similarly to the first embodiment.

In the present disclosure, the following variations can be employed.

(1) In the above description, the information related to stress istransmitted to user terminal 2 and business operator terminal 5, but inthe present disclosure, the information related to stress only has to betransmitted to one of user terminal 2 and business operator terminal 5on the other hand.

(2) In the above description, sensor 3 is integrally configured, but thepresent disclosure is not limited to the above configuration. FIG. 19 isa diagram showing an example of sensor 3 according to a variation of thepresent disclosure. Regarding sensor 3 according to the variation,wearable part 3A to be mounted on a user and main body part 3B areseparately configured. Wearable part 3A is configured with a fittingbelt that is detachable to the arm at a point near the underarm of theuser. Wearable part 3A is attached with an absorbent for absorbing abiological gas.

Wearable part 3A is configured to be detachable also to main body part3B. Main body part 3B includes detection unit 33, controller 31, andcommunication unit 34 shown in FIG. 7. When wearable part 3A is attachedto main body part 3B, main body part 3B heats the absorbent with, forexample, a heater to desorb the biological gas from the absorbent,analyzes the biological gas, extracts a measurement object biologicalgas (heptadecane in this embodiment), and measures a biological gasconcentration. Then, main body part 3B transmits the biological dataincluding the measured biological gas concentration to user terminal 2.In this variation, wearable part 3A is made compact, and a user's burdencan be thus reduced.

(3) The second embodiment can be applied to, for example, a case wherethe user receives a diagnosis from a doctor at a hospital. In this case,a computer of the doctor who makes a diagnosis of the user is used asuser terminal 2.

In this case, for example, the user visits the hospital on a regularbasis (for example, once a week, once in two weeks, once a month, or thelike), and the user is instructed by the doctor to wear sensor 3 for aspecific period (for example, one, two, or three days) immediatelybefore visiting the hospital. Sensor 3 stores the biological datameasured in this specific period in memory 32 in association with themeasurement time. Memory 32 is a memory detachable to sensor 3.

User brings memory 32 to the hospital when visiting the hospital. Doctorconnects this memory 32 to user terminal 2 to cause user terminal 2 toacquire the biological data obtained in this specific period. Then, userterminal 2 determines, based on the acquired biological data, whetherthere is an increasing tendency in the number of times when thebiological gas concentration exceeded the normal range, and userterminal 2 causes display unit 23 to display the information related tostress. On the other hand, if user terminal 2 determines that there isno increasing tendency, user terminal 2 does not cause display unit 23to display the information related to stress. In this case, userterminal 2 may cause display unit 23 to display, for example,information indicating that stress of the user is normal. This variationcan provide a doctor who makes a diagnosis of conditions of an expectantwoman, with data useful to prevent postpartum depression.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is expected to prevent postpartum depression andis therefore useful for an information processing system that managesstress of a user.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   -   1 server    -   2 user terminal    -   3 sensor    -   4 business operator server    -   5 business operator terminal    -   11 controller    -   12 memory    -   13 communication unit    -   21 controller    -   22 memory    -   23 display unit    -   24 communication unit    -   31 controller    -   32 memory    -   33 detection unit    -   34 communication unit    -   41 controller    -   42 memory    -   43 communication unit    -   51 controller    -   52 memory    -   53 display unit    -   54 communication unit    -   111 data analyzer    -   NT network    -   T1 user information table    -   T2 normal range data table    -   T3 business operator information table    -   T4 biological data table    -   U1 user

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for providing information in aninformation processing system, the method comprising: acquiring, via anetwork, biological gas information representing a concentration ofheptadecane of a user detected with a sensor for detecting heptadecanereleased from a skin surface of the user; obtaining referenceinformation representing an upper limit of a normal range of theconcentration of heptadecane per unit period of time, using a memorystoring the reference information representing the upper limit of thenormal range; and outputting information related to stress of the userto an information terminal after it is determined that a frequency withwhich the concentration of the heptadecane of the user per unit periodof time is more than the upper limit of the normal range tends toincrease, based on the biological gas information acquired in apregnancy period of the user.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the information including the upper limit of the normal range ofthe concentration of heptadecane per the unit period is set for the useras individual information of the user, based on the biological gasinformation acquired in in a predetermined period in an early stage ofthe pregnancy period of the user.
 3. The method according to claim 1,wherein the information including the upper limit of the normal range ofthe concentration of heptadecane per unit period is used commonly to aplurality of users including the user.
 4. The method in an informationprocessing system according to claim 1, wherein when it is notdetermined that the frequency with which the concentration of theheptadecane of the user per unit period of time is more than the upperlimit of the normal range tends to increase, the information related tostress of the user is not output to the information terminal.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal is a firstinformation terminal of the user.
 6. The method according to claim 5,wherein the information terminal is a second information terminal, of aconsulting business operator other than the first information terminalof the user.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the informationterminal is a first information terminal of the user, and the methodfurther includes: acquiring first address information on the firstinformation terminal and second address information on a consultingbusiness operator from a memory storing the first address informationand the second address information, when it is determined that thefrequency that the concentration of heptadecane of the user per the unitperiod of time is more than the upper limit of the normal range of tendsto increase; and outputting the information related to stress of theuser to both of the first information terminal and a second informationterminal of the consulting business operator, based on the first addressinformation and the second address information, wherein the secondinformation terminal of the consulting business operator is distinctform the first information terminal.
 8. The method according to claim 7,wherein the information to be output to the first information terminalincludes display information for allowing the user to select whether toaccept contact of the consulting business operator with the user.
 9. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the information related to thestress of the user is used to call the user's attention to a need forreducing stress build up in the user.
 10. The method according to claim1, wherein the information related to the stress of the user indicatesthat the stress of the user is more than the predetermined normal range.11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor for detectingheptadecane is built in a device to be worn on the user.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the information processing system isconfigured to acquire the biogas information along with a user ID of theuser, and to output the information related to stress on the user to theinformation terminal associated with the user ID of the user.
 13. Aninformation processing system comprising: a server device; and aninformation terminal, wherein the server device is configured to:acquire biological gas information presenting a concentration ofheptadecane of a user acquired by a sensor that detects heptadecanedischarged from a skin surface of the user, obtain reference informationrepresenting an upper limit of a normal range of the concentration ofheptadecane per unit period of time, using a memory storing thereference information representing the upper limit of the normal range,and output information related to stress of the user to the informationterminal after it is determined that a frequency that the concentrationof heptadecane of the user per the unit period of time is more than theupper limit of the normal range tends to increase, based on thebiological gas information acquired in a pregnancy period of the user,and wherein the information terminal displays the information related tostress of the user on the display of the information terminal.
 14. Aninformation terminal comprising: a display operatively connected to aserver device, wherein the server device is configured to: acquirebiological gas information presenting a concentration of heptadecane ofa user acquired by a sensor that detects heptadecane discharged from askin surface of the user, obtain reference information representing anupper limit of a normal range of the concentration of heptadecane perunit period of time, using a memory storing the reference informationrepresenting the upper limit of the normal range, and output informationrelated to stress of the user to the information terminal after it isdetermined that a frequency that the concentration of heptadecane of theuser per the unit period of time is more than the upper limit of thenormal range tends to increase, based on the biological gas informationacquired in a pregnancy period of the user, and wherein the displaydisplays the information related to stress of the user.
 15. Aninformation processing method using a computer, the method comprising:acquiring, via a network, biological gas information representing aconcentration of heptadecane of a user acquired by a sensor that detectsheptadecane discharged from a skin surface of the user; obtainingreference information representing an upper limit of a normal range ofthe concentration of heptadecane per unit period of time, using a memorystoring the reference information representing the upper limit of thenormal range; and outputting information related to stress of the userto display on a display the information related to stress of the userafter it is determined a frequency that the concentration of heptadecaneof the user per the unit period of time is more than the upper limit ofthe normal range tends to increase, based on the biological gasinformation acquired in a pregnancy period of the user.
 16. The methodaccording to claim 15, wherein the display is provided in an informationterminal of the user.
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein theinformation related to stress of the user is used to call the user'sattention to a need for reducing stress build up in the user.
 18. Themethod according to claim 15, wherein the information related to stressof the user indicates that stress build up in the user is more than apredetermined normal range.